Collegedale, Tennessee, police Chief Brian Hickman resigned Tuesday after an investigation by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office found that he violated department policy when he pursued a suspect in his personal vehicle in January.
Hickman had been on administrative leave since Jan. 12 after City Manager Ted Rogers learned about the pursuit and asked the sheriff’s office to investigate. That non-criminal investigation was completed and sent to Rogers on Friday, according to the sheriff’s office.
Hickman is the second top city official to step down within two days. Rogers turned in his notice of retirement on Monday – a week after a city commissioner made an unsuccessful motion to fire him during a public meeting after the firing of parks director Traci Bennett-Hobek following a heated argument about placement of trees in areas of green space. Rogers’ last day is March 12.
Rogers “expressed his appreciation for Chief Hickman’s many years of service to the city and its citizens,” Collegedale spokesperson Bridgett Raper said by email. “Chief Jack Sapp is now the acting chief of police.”
Hickman’s last day will be Thursday, she said.